Glaucoma After 60: Why Your Risk Increases and What You Should Watch For

Glaucoma becomes more important to think about as you get older, especially after age 60.

The reason is simple: age is one of the strongest known risk factors for glaucoma. The condition damages the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. In its early stages, glaucoma often causes no noticeable symptoms, so someone may feel that their vision is normal while damage is developing.

The National Eye Institute lists adults over 60 among the groups at higher risk for glaucoma and recommends regular comprehensive dilated eye exams for people in higher-risk groups.

1. Glaucoma becomes more common with age

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but the likelihood rises as you get older.

The National Eye Institute specifically identifies people over 60 as being at increased risk. Family history and certain racial and ethnic backgrounds also influence risk.

Age does not mean glaucoma is inevitable.

It means regular eye exams become more important because the optic nerve becomes more vulnerable to changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

2. Glaucoma often starts without symptoms

One of the biggest problems with glaucoma is that it usually does not announce itself early.

You might still:

• read comfortably

• drive normally

• recognize faces

• watch television

• use your phone

• see clearly in the center of your vision

Meanwhile, optic-nerve damage may be developing.

NEI reports that as many as half of people with glaucoma do not know they have the condition.

This is why waiting until your vision feels different is risky.

3. Side vision often changes before central vision

The most common form, open-angle glaucoma, usually progresses slowly.

Vision loss often begins in the peripheral, or side, vision rather than the sharp central vision used for reading.

Because the change happens gradually, the brain often adapts and fills in missing information.

You may not notice a problem until the disease has progressed further.

The National Eye Institute explains that glaucoma often causes gradual loss of peripheral vision before more obvious visual impairment develops.

4. Eye pressure matters, but it is not the whole story

Glaucoma is often associated with increased pressure inside the eye.

The eye constantly produces fluid. Normally, this fluid drains through structures near the front of the eye. If drainage becomes less efficient, pressure may rise.

High eye pressure increases the risk of optic-nerve damage.

But there is an important detail:

You can have glaucoma with eye pressure that falls within the usual range.

Likewise, some people have elevated eye pressure without developing glaucoma.

NEI notes that what counts as normal eye pressure differs between people.

That is why checking pressure alone is not enough to diagnose or rule out glaucoma.

5. A family history raises your risk

If a parent, sibling, or other close relative has glaucoma, your own risk is higher.

Family history becomes especially relevant as you age.

During an eye appointment, tell your doctor if glaucoma runs in your family, even if your own vision seems normal.

NEI includes family history among its major glaucoma risk factors and recommends regular comprehensive dilated exams for people in this group.

6. Some racial and ethnic groups face higher risk

Glaucoma does not affect every population equally.

According to NEI, higher-risk groups include:

• Black or African American adults over 40

• adults over 60

• Hispanic and Latino adults

• Asian American adults

• people with a family history of glaucoma

These differences reinforce the importance of individualized screening rather than relying on symptoms alone.

7. Diabetes and blood pressure deserve attention too

Eye health does not exist separately from overall health.

Diabetes and high blood pressure affect the blood vessels and tissues that support the eye. They also increase the importance of regular dilated examinations.

NEI recommends that most people with diabetes or high blood pressure have a dilated eye exam at least once a year, although the right schedule depends on individual risk.

If you are over 60 and also have diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease, make sure your eye doctor knows your medical history.

8. A normal vision test does not rule out glaucoma

Reading an eye chart checks how sharply you see.

It does not fully examine the optic nerve.

Someone with early glaucoma may still read the smallest letters on the chart.

A glaucoma evaluation may include:

• visual acuity testing

• eye-pressure measurement

• examination of the optic nerve

• a dilated retinal examination

• peripheral visual-field testing

• imaging of the optic nerve or retinal nerve-fiber layer

NEI recommends comprehensive dilated examinations rather than relying on vision screening alone for people at higher risk.

9. Dilated eye exams help find glaucoma earlier

During dilation, eye drops widen the pupil.

This gives the doctor a clearer view of the optic nerve and retina.

A comprehensive dilated examination may also include pressure testing and a visual-field test to look for changes in side vision. For adults over 60 who do not already have glaucoma, NEI recommends a dilated eye exam every one to two years. People with additional risk factors or suspicious findings often need more frequent monitoring.

10. Early treatment helps protect the vision you still have

Glaucoma damage is generally permanent.

Treatment focuses on preventing further damage rather than restoring vision already lost.

Depending on the type and severity of glaucoma, treatment may include:

• prescription eye drops

• laser procedures

• surgery

These treatments usually work by lowering pressure inside the eye.

The National Eye Institute notes that starting treatment early helps slow or stop additional vision loss.

This is why early detection matters so much.

What glaucoma symptoms should you watch for?

Most open-angle glaucoma does not produce obvious early symptoms.

As it progresses, someone may notice:

• missing areas of side vision

• difficulty noticing objects beside them

• increasing difficulty navigating unfamiliar spaces

• narrowing of peripheral vision

These changes often appear after significant optic-nerve damage has already occurred.

Do not wait for them before getting checked.

Sudden glaucoma symptoms are different

A less common type called angle-closure glaucoma sometimes develops suddenly.

NEI lists symptoms such as:

• intense eye pain

• red eye

• blurry vision

• nausea

This requires urgent medical care.

A sudden painful red eye with blurred vision should not wait for a routine appointment.

How often should you get checked after 60?

For adults over 60 who are at higher risk for glaucoma, the National Eye Institute recommends a comprehensive dilated examination approximately every one to two years.

Your doctor may recommend more frequent visits if you:

• already have glaucoma

• have elevated eye pressure

• have suspicious optic-nerve findings

• have a strong family history

• use steroid medications

• have diabetes or high blood pressure

• have experienced previous eye injury or surgery

The right schedule depends on your individual eye health.

What this means for your eyes after 60

The biggest warning sign for glaucoma is often having no warning signs at all.

After 60, regular eye examinations become increasingly important because glaucoma risk rises while early disease often remains invisible in everyday life.

A clear eye chart is reassuring, but it does not tell you whether your optic nerve is healthy.

Comprehensive dilated exams help your eye doctor look for changes before you notice vision loss, giving you the best opportunity to protect your sight.

Book with us

If you are over 60, have a family history of glaucoma, or have not had a comprehensive dilated eye exam recently, schedule an evaluation with South Bay Retina. Regular monitoring helps identify glaucoma and other age-related eye conditions before they have a larger impact on your vision.

Request Appointment